diff --git a/backends/qualcomm/builders/op_embedding.py b/backends/qualcomm/builders/op_embedding.py
index ea4ccc26dba..e8a60e120d7 100644
--- a/backends/qualcomm/builders/op_embedding.py
+++ b/backends/qualcomm/builders/op_embedding.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #
 # This source code is licensed under the BSD-style license found in the
 # LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+import os
 from typing import Dict
 
 import executorch.backends.qualcomm.python.PyQnnManagerAdaptor as PyQnnManager
@@ -242,6 +243,10 @@ def define_node(
         node: torch.fx.Node,
         nodes_to_wrappers: Dict[torch.fx.Node, PyQnnManager.TensorWrapper],
     ) -> PyQnnManager.PyQnnOpWrapper:
-        if is_qnn_sdk_version_less_than("2.48"):
+        # The optimized pattern requires QNN 2.48+. Resolving the SDK version
+        # relies on QNN_SDK_ROOT; when it is unavailable (e.g. AOT-only
+        # environments) fall back to the legacy lowering, which is valid on all
+        # QNN versions.
+        if not os.environ.get("QNN_SDK_ROOT") or is_qnn_sdk_version_less_than("2.48"):
             return self.define_node_legacy(node, nodes_to_wrappers)
         return self.define_node_optimize(node, nodes_to_wrappers)
diff --git a/backends/qualcomm/utils/check_qnn_version.py b/backends/qualcomm/utils/check_qnn_version.py
index e6cccd56984..b2342d312bf 100644
--- a/backends/qualcomm/utils/check_qnn_version.py
+++ b/backends/qualcomm/utils/check_qnn_version.py
@@ -26,8 +26,13 @@ def _get_qnn_host_lib_dir_name() -> str:
 
 
 def get_sdk_build_id():
+    qnn_sdk_root = os.environ.get("QNN_SDK_ROOT")
+    if not qnn_sdk_root:
+        raise EnvironmentError(
+            "QNN_SDK_ROOT must be set to query the QNN SDK build id."
+        )
     htp_library_path = os.path.join(
-        os.environ.get("QNN_SDK_ROOT", None),
+        qnn_sdk_root,
         "lib",
         _get_qnn_host_lib_dir_name(),
         get_qnn_lib_name("QnnHtp"),